Munoz Fires 2-Under to Lead Boys Division at Hilton Head Junior All-Star Hirai shoots 3-under-par to lead Girls Division

BLUFFTON, S.C. — Rodrigo Munoz of Bradenton, Fla., used a 3-under-par back-nine score to give him a one-shot lead in the Boys Division with a 2-under-par 70. Reona Hirai of Summerville, S.C., also holds a one-shot lead after firing a 3-under-par 69 to lead the Girls Division.

The Hilton Head Junior All-Star is one of 10 events in the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series. Specifically designed for boys and girls ages 12-15, the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series presents opportunities for younger members to develop their skills and earn entry into AJGA Open tournaments. The Series concludes with the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational over Columbus Day weekend for winners and top finishers in Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series events.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Hilton Head Junior All-Star is a 54-hole stroke play event held on the South Course at Berkeley Hall Club. The tournament field features 60 boys and 17 girls from 17 states, the United Arab Emirates, Barbados, British Colombia and Columbia. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,761 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 5,970 yards.

Munoz recently changed his putter two to three weeks ago and has seen his short game improve.

“I made every putt within 10 feet,” Munoz said. “Now that I changed my putter, I am making more putts.”

Rigel Fernandes of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Matthew Beringer of Macon, Ga., sit in second after shooting 1-under-par 71. Jordan Batchelor of St. Johns, Fla., is in fourth with an even-par 72. Corey Carlson of Green Cove Springs, Fla., Daniel Jaramillo of Medellin, Colombia, Ramsey Touchberry of Bradenton, Fla., Mills Poynor of Birmingham, Ala., and Austin Morrison of Charlotte, N.C., are all tied for fifth with 1-over-par 73.

Hirai played consistently throughout the day and fired a 3-under-par back nine.

“I was really consistent and didn't make any bogeys,” Hirai said. “My putting and approach shots were great all day.”

In the Girls Division, Rachel Dai of Suwanee, Ga., sits one shot back of the lead with a 2-under-par 70. Michaela Owen of Alpharetta, Ga., is in third with a 2-over-par 74.

GARY GILCHRIST GOLF ACADEMY, a full-time signature golf instruction program with campuses located in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., and in Arroyo Grande, Calif., began as an Official Partner of the AJGA in 2009. The partnership features an endowment of an Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant and the naming rights to the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series, which provides juniors ages 12-15 access to national competitive golf opportunities.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

Second-round tee times will run from 7:30 — 9:18 a.m. off of the Nos. 1 and 10 tees. For more information, please contact Tournament Director Jeremy Freyman at (678) 617-9917 or tournament headquarters at (843) 815-3154.

Mission Statement

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.